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Why I Support Your Site

Editor’s Note: I ran the following article/plea for new Premium Members last week. I’m running it again this week for a couple of reasons: First, it’s still summer vacation season for some readers, so you may have missed it last week. But more importantly, I wanted the chance to share the testimonial that follows this note – from a long-time RBR supporter in response to the article. Read on. —John Marsh

John,

Thank you for the reminder on why I support your site. I have been a Premium Member for several years and have subscribed to the RBR Newsletter as far back as when Ed was running the site.

The Newsletter and articles are really helpful and I look forward to them every week. I love the fact that the information is directed towards those of us who enjoy riding and want to enjoy it even more, not information that is directed solely to the competitive rider. (Although, I think most of us are pretty competitive with ourselves!) The pieces on the equipment that you and the contributors use are awesome. Much more helpful than the reviews I normally see online.

The several eArticles and eBooks that I have purchased have been well worth it. Good information that is immediately applicable. My best purchase through your sponsors has no doubt been the Kontact Saddle, I absolutely LOVE IT. The most comfortable seat I have ever used.

Thank you for all you and your contributors do! Rest assured, the money for my Premium Membership more than pays for itself every year. —Jason Vian

Support of Cycling: What Do You Value?

Last month in the mail, I received my annual renewal letter from the League of American Bicyclists.

I’ve been a member for several years, and I just renewed for another year for $40.

I appreciate what the League does in terms of its nationwide cycling advocacy, its various safety and training programs and education efforts, and its lobbying on behalf of cycling at the federal level.

In short, I SUPPORT the League, because the League supports cycling. It’s that simple.

I really don’t feel that I get anything tangible in return – beyond the satisfaction of knowing I’m providing a few dollars to help the organization do what it does for me and my fellow cyclists.

It would be super easy for me to simply take for granted what the League does without supporting it financially.

But I VALUE what the League does, and I know it takes money to run an organization of any size. I do not mind spending a bit of money to support – and pay for – that value.

Do You Value RBR?

Which begs the question: Do you value RBR?

I am a 1-man operation (with the help of a few amazing regular contributors), and work extremely hard to deliver the weekly RBR Newsletter to my fellow roadies. My singular hope is that it delivers some level of value to you.

Even if you get something worthwhile out of one or two articles a week, I would feel great about that. Same thing if you can find valuable info among our more than 3,000 how-to articles on the site.

Over the years, a good many of you have written me directly to say some version of “RBR is a fantastic resource for recreational road riders; keep up the great work!”

I can’t tell you how good that makes me feel. But it’s simply not enough.

Just like the League of American Bicyclists, it takes money to run RBR: to pay for web hosting and maintenance, to pay an email company to deliver weekly emails to you, to pay contributors or edit and publish their eArticles and eBooks to try to earn a little bit for their work, and to pay myself at least a pittance for the countless hours I pour into it.

Yes, we do make a tiny amount of money through advertising (please support those good folks, too!) – but the vast majority of our sustaining revenue comes from Premium Memberships and, to a far lesser degree, eBookstore sales (please support our authors, too!).

I – and the regular voices that come to you each week – are certainly not in it for the money. We’re doing our little bit to support cycling in the best way that we can. But we can’t do that without you.

Which is why I’m asking you today, as I do from time to time, to Please Support RBR Financially!

My heartfelt thanks to all past and current Members! And don’t miss our Great New Giveaways! (See the next article in today’s issue.)

Don’t Forget to Log In!

If you have a site account, please first LOG IN before either joining as a new Premium Member or renewing an existing (or expired) Membership. Also, log in to check the status of your Membership. You’ll be able to clearly see on your Account page whether your Membership is current or not. And if you need any assistance, just let me know.